Casey

November 23, 2009

Last week we presented some of our suggestions on how to survive Thanksgiving with grace and compassion despite some of the more gruesome rituals that surround this holiday. Now we’d like to share some of your feedback!

The winner of our recent drawing for free tickets to the California Celebration FOR the Turkeys was Josephine Noah of Albany, California, and this is what she had to say:

“I make a point of thanking and appreciating those who have hosted the gathering, and made food for me. Over the years, they've grown accepting and accommodating of my food politics, and I believe knowing a vegan and some vegetarians has made them more aware of us — that we're normal and good people, and that we have made valid and respectable commitments to our beliefs.”

When Paula Lecht of San Francisco invites loved ones to the vegan Thanksgiving at her house, she makes sure to satisfy all the senses:

“To invoke the holiday, I include the fragrant hot spiced cider with real clove and cinnamon sticks, lots of vegan wine, candles, and anything else that brings a warm, inviting glow to my home. This joy is communicated to all who share it, vegan or not. I find that those who question the choice for a vegan cuisine are too caught up in the splendid presentation to protest!”

And like so many of you, San Mateo resident Emily Beighley supports the life-saving work of Farm Sanctuary through our Adopt-A-Turkey Project:

“We ask our friends and family to ‘adopt’ Farm Sanctuary critters for us in lieu of gifts during the holiday season, and we attend [the California Celebration FOR the Turkeys] every year.”

It was wonderful to see so many thoughtful stories from “Making Hay” readers about their own Thanksgiving experiences. If only we had space to print them all!

If we’ve learned anything from Thanksgivings past, it’s that while the day is a cause for much suffering amongst our feathered friends, it can also be a significant opportunity for advocacy on their behalf. We encourage all of you to continue leading by example and let the light of your compassion show the way to a kinder future. On behalf of all of us at Farm Sanctuary, here’s wishing you a happy holiday.

November 06, 2009

Ohio residents voted Tuesday on an important ballot initiative known as Issue 2. It was important, not because of what it actually accomplished, but because of what most Ohioans thought it would accomplish based on misleading ads from factory farm sponsors. Framing the measure as something that would protect animal welfare, agribusiness was able to deceive almost two-thirds of voters into voting “yes.”

Gene Baur, Farm Sanctuary’s president and co-founder, explains: “This undemocratic power grab was passed … by misleading well-meaning Ohioans to believe that a Livestock Care Standards Board would protect the animals in its care, when it was actually designed to allow cruel and inhumane practices to continue on factory farms...” And as Wayne Pacelle of HSUS points out, Issue 2 proponents spent $4 million on this slight-of-hand to make its passage possible.

Like many of our allies, we made a conscious decision to spend almost no money opposing them. Why? Because we wanted to save resources for our own ballot initiative, through which we can create more meaningful change by banning the cruel confinement of animals in cages so small they can barely move. And while Issue 2 does give more power to the industry for now, it won’t be enough to stop real reform. If the passage of Issue 2 means anything, it means that Ohioans care about how farm animals are treated. When we put out a call for serious change through the ballot, possibly as early as next year, people will side with the animals, just like they thought they were doing yesterday.

We’ll keep you posted on our progress and what you can do to help. When the time comes, we look forward to working with all of our allies (that means you!) and making a difference for farm animals state by state!

Jasmin: Why thank you, Casey. The goal of the interview was more on the “to entertain” side, which led me and some viewers wanting more … umph. Animal activists often get deluged with all sorts of questions from people who feel threatened by our message – or our cruelty-free lunch. So today, we’re going to talk about how to handle a few of the more common questions or objections constructively.

Delci: I know that, for me, having good responses to these questions or comments is especially important when leafleting, tabling, or doing other public outreach.

Casey: Definitely. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Jasmin: I don’t know about you, but when I do demos, I almost always hear, “Why are you spending so much time on animal rights when there is so much human suffering in the world?”

Casey: Yup, I do hear that question often. And it can manifest in other ways too, like “What about the war?” or “There are children starving! Why should I spend my energy focusing on cruelty to farm animals?”

Delci: So how would you answer it?

Jasmin: Assuming the person is actually waiting for an answer and not just shouting out the window of her car as she zooms past, I’d say something like this:

Factory farming abuses workers, pollutes the environment, wastes resources, and produces unhealthy products – all of which negatively impact humans. And actually, I care very much about human rights. It’s part of the reason I’m an animal advocate.

If I had the opportunity to keep talking, I’d explain that there’s a lot of overlap between animal rights and human rights. Slaughterhouse workers are among the most abused employees out there – not to mention that “meat packing” is the most dangerous industry in the U.S., largely because employees are working directly with sharp blades and fast-moving conveyor belts. (This is according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as reported in Slaughterhouse by Gail Eisnitz – a must-read on this subject, as is Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser.)

As for children starving, let’s not forget that animal agriculture is the most inefficient way to produce food. Most of the Earth’s arable land is planted to feed animals who are then slaughtered; talk about waste! Over 70 percent of American grain and 80 percent of American corn is fed to farm animals. According to a Cornell University study, the amount of grain consumed by animals in the U.S. could feed approximately 800 million people.

Lastly, just because you are speaking out for one group one day does not necessarily mean you’re not speaking out for another group the next. I actually came into animal rights through AIDS-awareness activism, and I spend my share of time speaking up for many other social justice causes.

Delci: I know. I’ve seen your Facebook page. You know what else I hear a lot?

Delci:“Humans are supposed to eat meat. We’re at the top of the food chain!”

Jasmin: Ah, that old classic. I still remember the first time I heard it. It was a warm autumn day in Brooklyn. I was passing out leaflets after a delightful lunch at this café on Bedford Avenue …

Casey: Really?

Jasmin: No. Actually, I’ve heard it so many times, they all blur together in my mind.

Casey: Oh, glad I’m not the only one. You know, we could answer that “food chain” argument by pointing out that it oversimplifies a complex ecological concept and may well misrepresent the bulk of human history. Archeological evidence suggests our ancestors most likely subsisted on a wide range of diets depending on their local environment. There has never been just one food chain, but many food chains, each specific to a certain time and place. The one common characterisitc of early human diets is adaptability, and that remains true today. We have more in common with rats than with lions.

Delci: Of course, we’re no longer living in the Stone Age. We pretty much choose our own food chain when we go to the grocery store.

Casey: True. What people are really saying with the “food chain” comment, whether they realize it or not, is that “might makes right.” That is completely at odds with the professed moral values of almost every culture that exists today. When was the last time you heard a politician or religious leader say, "The strong should take advantage of the weak, because that is the natural order of things!" Most people don’t really believe that, and those who do make pretty terrible neighbors.

Instead of "might makes right," most moral systems generally adhere to the Golden Rule, which compels us to treat others with consideration and avoid causing unnecessary harm. We know that humans can thrive on a plant-based diet. There are millions of vegans proving this every day.

Jasmin: Like us!

Casey: Right – and also a growing number of professional athletes. Since we have no need to eat animal products, and since all animal agriculture requires that animals be harmed, it follows that all consumption of animal-based foods involves unnecessary harm – i.e., that which nearly every moral system frowns upon. Most people want to do what is right – or at least they think they do. If you want to do the right thing, go vegan.

Jasmin: Of course, a lot of people want to do the right thing, but only if it’s not too difficult...

Casey: No doubt. I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard “I’m vegetarian already, but I could never go vegan – it’s too hard.” I could adopt a whole flock of Farm Sanctuary turkeys with that kind of money.

Delci: You know, I went vegan 17 years ago, and it actually was a little challenging back then, especially when dining out. But today, it’s a piece of (cruelty-free) cake! When people say that going vegan is too hard, here’s what I like to tell them:

Being vegan really isn’t hard at all. There’s a learning curve, to be sure, but once you get your bearings it’s really just like any other habit. Being vegan is automatic for me; I don’t even think about it a lot of the time.

Jasmin: Plus, there are all kinds of amazing resources around now to help people take that step.

Jasmin: Another great resource is Vegan at Heart, a free e-mail coaching program that provides guidance and support for “people who are vegan at heart but not necessarily in practice.”

Delci: In addition to the plethora of resources available to those trying to make the transition to veganism today, it’s also important to note the tremendous increase in the availability of vegan products – much more than 17 years ago!

Casey: And some of the best vegan foods have been staples of a healthy diet for years: fruits and veggies, grains and legumes. These basic whole foods are healthy and affordable.

Delci: When I was in Cuba a few years back, I ate amazing food – black beans and rice, malanga (a delicious tuber), mangos, and much more. I still miss it. But that experience just underscores how easy it is to be vegan even while traveling and even without access to abundant processed foods.

Jasmin: I’ve traveled a lot, and I have never had a problem keeping my hunger at bay. Last summer I went to Vancouver and the “veganicity” of the town blew my mind!

Delci:Veganicity? Nice word, Jazz. Speaking of which, when I first moved to the South, people kept suggesting that I was going to starve to death as a vegan, but I can honestly say I’ve had no problem finding more than enough to eat here.

Jasmin: The bottom line is that veganism is not all that difficult. You can find a good meal anywhere if you know what to look for. I think that going vegan is one of the best things I’ve ever done. It’s my favorite part of me.

Delci: And once you know about the horrific cruelties of factory farming and the monumental impact our food choices have on the environment, it’s hard not to make a change.

Casey: [breaking into song] I’m starting with the man in the mirror!

Jasmin: Um. What was that?

Delci: Michael Jackson, I think.

Casey: [still singing] I’m asking him to change his ways!

Jasmin: I guess we’re done talking then?

Delci: Yeah, we’d better leave before the dancing starts.

Jasmin: Wait, one more thing, quickly... If you're reading this and you have some questions that you want us to tackle, please leave them in the comments section below.

Delci: Consider this the first installment in what will be a new outlet for us to use to cover your FAQs.

Jasmin: Is Casey doing the Moonwalk?

Casey: [bringing it home] If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make that … change!

October 13, 2009

As the days grow shorter and the leafy hills around Farm Sanctuary's national headquarters in Watkins Glen reach the height of their autumn glory, I am busily preparing for my favorite holiday, Halloween. There’s a special kind of magic that’s brewed when you stir together the bounty of the harvest season with an evening of costumed revelry and tales of haunting ghosts. It is the one night of the year when adults are most encouraged to use their imaginations and return to the make-believe of childhood. But Halloween's magic can lend itself to more than brief and simple fun. With a little creativity, you can use it to cast a spell of compassion that changes and saves lives.

This year, I have resolved that I'll not only prepare my costume before the 11th hour, but that I will also use its power for the good of farm animals. My friends and I will be setting up a table in downtown Ithaca, just an hour's drive from the Sanctuary, and distributing literature along with some of our favorite vegan Halloween treats. I shall be appearing as Frankenstein's monster - did you know he was veg*n (vegan or vegetarian), just like his real life creator, Mary Shelley? Under a banner that reads "Even monsters can be kind," we'll be raising awareness in our local community about the all-too-real horrors of factory farming. Be sure to stop by if you're in the area!

Many of my colleagues in New York City will be summoning their own Halloween spirit by leafleting in Times Square on October 28 and throwing a serious Farm Sanctuary monster mash the following night. Frankapalooza will have Greenwich Village rockin' out for farm animals once again, as three outstanding bands take to the stage at Kenny's Castaways. See our ACT events calendar for more details.

If your broom can't make it to the Village, there's no need to worry - unless you hear creepy violin music coming from out of nowhere. I hereby call on you to make something happen in your own sleepy hollow; our Halloween Outreach Guide offers some wicked tips and suggestions to inspire you.

Want to kick things up another notch on the ACTivist scale? Consider swapping out the usual Halloween movie fare for a screening of Earthlings. One of the most comprehensive animal rights documentaries ever made, Earthlings is a powerful expose of the abuse that animals suffer every day at human hands. Your guests will find it far more disturbing than any Nightmare on Elmstreet, and there's no way to walk away from it comforted by the thought that it was "just a movie." The only respite from the awful truth of animal cruelty lies in taking action to build a more compassionate world. And fortunately for those newly awakened to the suffering of animals, taking action is what we do best.

September 29, 2009

Times are tough for the egg industry. The Food and Drug Administration is implementing costly regulations in an effort to keep consumers from getting sick. U.S. per capita consumption has been declining since 2005. More and more states are considering legislation to ban cruel battery cages in the wake of a landmark ballot initiative last year in California. And, worst of all, animal advocates keep exposing them for their undeniably cruel treatment of animals. It’s hard to say what Americans find more disgusting, the mutilation of day-old chicks recently exposed in the media or leaving dead hens to rot inside their filthy cages with surviving cagemates.

Since the egg industry can’t stop abusing animals, its only alternative is to launch a new marketing campaign aimed at giving it a more warm and fuzzy image. You’ve heard of greenwashing? Well, meet warm-fuzzy-washing. Earlier this month, the American Egg Board (AEB) launched its “Good Egg Project,” which invites people to take a pledge to “Eat good. Do good everyday.” For every person that takes this nebulous pledge, the AEB will donate one egg to food pantries, up to a million eggs. Of course, the egg industry extorts more than 90 billion eggs from miserable caged hens every year. If you put those eggs in cartons laid end to end, they would circle the Earth’s equator 57 times! In contrast one million eggs in cartons laid end to end wouldn’t even get you from Brooklyn to Yonkers.

But the warm-fuzzy-washing doesn’t stop there. To make things even more repugnant, they are partnering up with the producers of “Sesame Street,” helping to underwrite the show’s 40th season in exchange for photo ops with Cookie Monster and, undoubtedly, plenty of pro-egg messages that will be spoon-fed to millions of hapless youngsters. With McDonald’s already in the show’s stable of corporate sponsors, I guess it must have seemed like a good fit. Of course, “Sesame Street” wouldn’t dare tell kids the truth about eggs or the tortured lives of farm animals. Everyone knows that honesty is the best policy, except when talking to children, in which case you should just keep your mouth shut and take that big fat corporate check to the bank.

Give children in your life a real lesson in compassion by reading to them from an animal friendly book, like Ruby Roth’s That’s Why We Don’t Eat Animals. We know reading to kids does far more for their development (and yours) than plopping them down in front of a television anyway.

September 17, 2009

Governors sometimes have to make hard choices; this is not one of those times.

If you get Farm Sanctuary’s E-News and Action Alerts and you live in California, you probably already know that important legislation (SB 135) to ban the cruel tail-docking of cattle is on Governor Schwarzenegger’s desk. (If you don’t get our Action Alerts, you can mend my hurt feelings by signing up today!) Sadly, the erstwhile action hero has yet to take the heroic action of signing this bill.

Well, when the going gets tough, the tough call in a little star power to get things going. At least, that’s what we do when the going gets tough in California, where the governor’s IMDB credits are longer than a Star Wars prologue. Compassionate celebs who have signed a Farm Sanctuary letter urging Schwarzenegger to approve the tail-docking ban include Alicia Silverstone, Bill Maher, Bob Barker, Emily Deschanel, Eric Roberts, Esai Morales, Fred Willard, Ginnifer Goodwin, James Cromwell, Joan van Ark, Kim Basinger, Kristen Bell, Mariel Hemingway, Mimi Kennedy, and Valerie Harper.

But while these Hollywood helpfuls do a lot to put animal issues in the spotlight, we still need YOUR help if we want to see this legislation pass. Most California dairy farmers know that cutting cows’ tails off does nothing for the animals or consumers. The science is absolutely conclusive on those points. Even the American Veterinary Medical Association, normally quiet on the abuses of modern animal agriculture, has condemned routine tail docking. But some producers still cling to the outdated practice, which is known to cause both acute and chronic pain for the cows who are mutilated. It also increases their stress during fly season and hinders their ability to communicate with other cows – as with many animals, cows rely on their tails for body language.

While many laws to protect farm animals meet stiff resistance from factory farm lobbyists and their allies, this is not one of those bills. It should be a no-brainer for any compassionate politician. Schwarzenegger has helped animals before, such as when he signed legislation to ban foie gras production, limit the chaining of dogs outside and protect seals in La Jolla. Now we just need him to pick up that gubernatorial pen once more and put his well-practiced autograph on SB 135. If he hears from you today, we think he will do just that. Please take action, right now.

September 15, 2009

Last April, Farm Sanctuary released our report on the animal welfare marketing claims that are increasingly popular among both consumers and the animal agriculture industry. As one of the report’s chief authors, I am proud of the work we did on The Truth Behind the Labels, but there is always room for expansion with future editions. One of the issues this report will likely tackle with the next update is kosher and halal labels, which are applied to foods approved by religious authorities of Judaism and Islam respectively.

It seems the universe picked last week to hit me over the head with the truth behind these labels, and made me wish I had included them in the previous report. First, a member e-mailed to ask what kosher certifications meant in regard to animal welfare. Then, two more items crossed my desk. The first was a press release about Magen Tzedek, a new “ethical certification seal” that will be applied to qualifying producers of kosher foods. The second was an L.A. Times blog articleabout a new line of kosher chicken to be offered in select Whole Foods Market stores this week. Clearly, this is a subject we need to address before the High Holy Daysget started.

According to the Orthodox Union, “the world’s largest and best recognized kosher certification company,” kosher slaughter should be performed as follows:

"The Trachea and Esphagus of the animal are severed with a special razor-sharp, perfectly smooth blade, causing instantaneous death with no pain to the animal. Only a trained kosher slaughterer (schochet), whose peity and expertise have been attested to by rabbinic authorities, is qualified to slaughter an animal for kosher consumption."

While we would all like our deaths to be swift and painless, such a thing is much easier said than done. According to a study of several kosher slaughter plants, the average time it took for an animal to lose consciousness after having his or her throat cut ranged from 15 to 35 seconds. Look at your watch and imagine bleeding to death as those intervals tick by. Does that feel instantaneous to you?

Please note, my aim is not to single out anyone’s faith or religious practices for special condemnation. But anyone buying kosher meat should be aware of the fact that farm animals slaughtered in this way still suffer – just as those in conventional slaughterhouses do.

Moreover, kosher rules say nothing about how an animal is raised - probably because there was no such thing as a factory farm when they were written, back in the Bronze Age. That’s where the new Magen Tzedek certification comes in. There are animal welfare requirements attached to this label. Sadly, those requirements are nothing more than those recommended by FMI-NCCR, a food retailer and restaurant industry coalition that has rubber stamped the guidelines of organizations like the Pork Board and the National Chicken Council. In other words, Magen Tzedek says factory farms are just fine, and that animals raised in this way can be deemed kosher.

The new kosher chicken products to be offered at Whole Foods Market (Kosher Valley) are allegedly produced from animals raised on a vegetarian diet and without antibiotics. The chickens are also “generously” allowed “30% more space” than the industry standard (which is less than 1 square foot per bird) and best of all “fresh water.” The fact that such allowances could be considered an improvement over the industry standard just demonstrates how low the bar has been set. But doing slightly better than horrible should not win anybody a pat on the back.

Halal certifications like those issued by various kosher organizations are much less common in the U.S., but the rules are essentially the same, at least in terms of their animal welfare requirements (or lack thereof).

As I said, you can expect the next edition of our report on animal welfare standards to include this important information. In the meantime, I hope the what is presented here will be a resource for those trying to sort ritual slaughter fact from fiction. Please educate yourself and others about misleading animal welfare labels. Aside from the report mentioned above, and the report summary, we also have a concise leaflet on the Truth Behind “Humane” Meat, Milk and Eggs that is perfect for your outreach efforts. You can also help our Truth Behind the Labels campaign by signing our petitionto the USDA about its misleading “Naturally Raised” label.

September 08, 2009

When you hear the words "family farm," what images come to mind? If you're like most Americans, you may envision gently rolling hills of hay, an old tractor beside a red barn, and a collie lying contentedly in the sun as a small cluster of hens forage in the grass nearby. These are the types of images that animal agribusiness will use this fall as it pushes Ohio citizens to vote “yes” on a ballot initiative known as Issue 2. While the people behind this measure would like you to believe it will improve animal welfare and protect the autonomy of "family farmers," this carefully crafted messaging couldn't be further from the truth. Casey, Jasmin and Delci sit down to give you the low-down on this low-down dirty scheme.

Farm Sanctuary's New York shelter, a true idyllic farm

Casey: I read an article in the Columbus Dispatch last week that highlighted some of the key concerns we have with Issue 2 in Ohio. I think now is a great time to talk about these concerns so that our ACTivists in Ohio will be well prepared to help us defeat the measure. In fact, this applies to ACTivists across the country, because we're likely to see industrial farm lobbyists pushing similar legislation in other states.

Delci: Issue 2 is a not simply a proposed law, but a proposed constitutional amendment. This amendment would be bad news for farm animals, because it creates a Livestock Care Standards Board with the authority to establish animal welfare standards. Harmless as that sounds, it’s important to understand that this board would be overwhelmingly dominated by industry. Of the board’s 13 members, only one will represent a local humane society – and there’s no assurance that this lone “humane” representative would even be knowledgeable about farm animal welfare. (Most local humane societies deal primarily with dogs and cats.) And while Issue 2 purports to include “family farmers” on the board, it fails to define “family farmer” or “family farm.” It’s more than likely that the “family farm” board members would actually be factory farm operators.

Casey: The article I mentioned features several quotes from an industrial hog farmer named Jim Heimerl. While Heimerl is clearly supposed to represent the "family farmer" point of view in the article, it’s obvious that Heimerl's operation is not the celebrated "family farm" of America's rural tradition. According to the article, his farm in Licking, OH produces more than 100,000 pigs a year, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Jasmin: The melting iceberg…

Casey: True. If you go to the Heimerl Farms Ltd. Web site, you will find out that the Heimerls own not one, but three farms, and they confine more than 10,000 breeding sows to produce not 100,000, but 250,000 pigs a year! Not only that, but they also supply several dozen contract growers throughout the state, essentially providing everything from animals, to feed and medications, to operators who own nothing more than the land and the buildings in which they raise Heimerl pigs. This is no "mom and pop" operation; it’s a factory farm company with franchises all over the state. But this is exactly the type of "family farm" that is likely to be represented on the Livestock Care Standards Board if Issue 2 is passed.

Jasmin: That's like putting oil company executives in charge of writing our national energy policy.

Delci: Or having the car industry determine emissions standards and public transportation policies.

Jasmin: Or putting foxes in charge of the henhouse.

Delci: Not that we’re suggesting that a hen be appointed to chair the Ohio standards board . . .

Jasmin: No. I’m sure a hen would have something to say about how hundreds of millions of her egg-laying sisters are being treated, but the other board members would probably just put her in a cage and plug their ears.

Casey: The bottom line is that industry – any industry – only cares about one thing: its bottom line. It is fundamentally incapable of making ethical decisions.

Jasmin: It’s all-too-obvious that this ballot measure was created out of fear that animal advocates such as us are actually succeeding in putting farm animal issues on the map. One of my favorite quotes comes from a blog entry from Beef Daily, entitled “Agriculture’s Stormy Cloud”:

“For me, the real concern is what happened in California with the passing of Proposition 2, a proposal that bans the use of modern housing systems for egg-laying hens, veal calves and gestating sows by 2015. Although this doesn’t directly hit the industry, for now, I fear this proposal is only the beginning. Yes, I’m very troubled, and you should be too. The animal rights activists are on the move, and they are making things happen–one nasty legislation at a time.”

Delci: We are making things happen, and citizens across the nation believe that farm animals deserve better. Try as it might, the industry can’t put the kibosh on public demands for serious change. Even if Issue 2 were to pass, it wouldn’t preclude Ohioans from passing reforms like those Californians supported last fall when they overwhelmingly voted to pass Prop 2. But it would create roadblocks, and because of the negative implications it has for farm animals across the board, it’s crucial that we defeat Issue 2 in November.

Jasmin: Modest reforms that give farm animals the ability to turn around and extend their limbs are way past due. The entire European Union is already in the process of phasing out these confinement systems, which represent some of the most egregious forms of institutionalized cruelty. And though "cage-free" and "crate-free" do not equal “humane,” the fight to bring about reform does absolutely put farm animal issues into the public consciousness. Case in point: As a result of the commercials we aired in California last year during the Prop 2 campaign, countless people went vegan.

Delci: It also helps set a legal precedent that farm animals are more than just production units. Their needs demand ethical and legal consideration.

Jasmin: Farm Sanctuary believes that “humane animal farming” is an oxymoron (for more on why, see our Truth Behind Labels report), but we do support anti-confinement measures as incremental steps toward a more compassionate world. While we sow the seeds for a vegan planet, and encourage people to adopt a plant-based diet, the animals who continue to be raised and slaughtered cannot afford for us to stand by and do nothing to improve their lot, even if it is the smallest of improvements.

Casey: Exactly. We may not see an end to all animal exploitation in our lifetimes, but we can diminish current cruelties one chunk at a time. And along the way, we’ll inspire more and more people to see animals as friends, not food.

Jasmin: So now is a perfect time to employ some good ol’ fashioned grassroots tactics. Write an e-mail to your friends and family exposing the truth behind Issue 2. Write several. Write a letter to your legislator and express disappointment about how quickly this ill-conceived, pro-factory-farm measure was pushed through. Then, write a letter to the editor of your local paper and voice your concerns about Issue 2. Remember, the letters section is the most read part of any newspaper, aside from the front page. That’s a lot of hearts and minds you can change with your words.

Delci: And don’t forget to stay tuned for our upcoming action alerts about Issue 2 and other topics. If you’re not already a member of Farm Sanctuary’s Advocacy Campaign Team, sign up today – it’s a perfect way to stay on top of all of our campaigns, local volunteer opportunities, and inspiring activist stories.

Casey: Remember, Issue 2 is representative of a much larger issue. With the passage of Prop 2 in California, the industry finally realized that animal advocates are not going away, and polls consistently show that the vast majority of Americans oppose the standardized cruelties of factory farms. So now, they're starting to fight back. The intensive confinement of farm animals will come to an end, and the industry knows it. The only question is whether it will take 10 years or 50. That's why it is so important for ACTivists in every state to get involved. If you are in Ohio, it is imperative that you spread the word, and most importantly -

August 25, 2009

With its long history of promoting meat, eggs and dairy, the USDA is usually not at the top of our “Favorite Government Agencies” list. But sometimes, it does something we really like, such as when Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced this month that August 23–29 would be declared “National Community Gardening Week.”

“Community gardens provide numerous benefits including opportunities for local food production, resource conservation, and neighborhood beautification," said Vilsack. "But they also promote family and community interaction and enhance opportunities to eat healthy, nutritious foods. Each of these benefits is something we can and should strive for."

Friends and neighbors coming together to cultivate fresh local produce is something we can all agree is a step towards a more sustainable – and more plant-based – American diet. But there’s something that’s even better than a community garden, and that something is a veganic community garden!

If you’re new to the idea, veganic gardening is the practice of growing food crops using methods that are not only organic (free of GMOs and nasty chemicals), but also free of animal exploitation. Sadly, most “just-plain-organic” agriculture in the U. S. relies heavily on animal-based fertilizers such as manure, blood meal and bone meal. Yuck. We can do better.

While many organic enthusiasts believe that you need manure to grow your organic veggies, it just isn’t so! In fact, many cultures, past and present, have sustained their fields without chemicals or manure, simply because they didn’t have an enormous animal industry desperately trying to dispose of its smelly mountains of waste. Think about it. Do you think Native Americans growing the three sisters (corn, beans and squash) had large hog and dairy farms to supply their fields with truckloads of animal poop? Uh-uh.

So, now that you are in on this little secret, it’s time to share the knowledge.

First, locate a community garden near you. The American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) has a convenient database to help you out. Just plug in your zip code and see what’s growing in your neighborhood. Talk to your local garden coordinators and see how you can get involved.

If you live in a temperate zone, it may be too late to have a veganic plot this year, but investing your labor during this year’s harvest season can earn the respect of your fellow gardeners. When you show up at meeting to plan next year’s garden, you’ll have more influence. (Going to the meeting with some yummy vegan brownies couldn’t hurt your case either. ) Use the time between now and then to brush up on – or learn the basics of – veganic agriculture. To help you get started, check out the Veganic Agriculture Network and this excellent “how-to” from the Vegan Society.

“But, what if there is no community garden in my neighborhood?” you ask. Why, lucky you! That means you can get in on the ground floor and start your own community garden! As a founding member, you’ll have the clout to make sure things are done veganically from day one. The ACGA has a terrific guide on how do launch your own community garden right here. So enjoy celebrating National Community Garden Week, and start hatching plans now for a truly humane garden in 2010.

August 21, 2009

Now that Jasmin has told you all about the Walk for Farm Animals, I hope you're making plans to attend, or better yet, coordinate a Walk in your area. And if you can bake, why not bring some delicious vegan cookies for your fellow walkers? The Walk for Farm Animals is a rewarding and fun experience all by itself, but a Walk with cookies? Forget about it!

But after you've done the Walk, you may find yourself feeling like one mile just wasn't enough. You may be eating some of those cookies while watching a broadcast of the Ironman Triathalon or the Tour de France or some other event where the mildly insane put themselves through athletic torture for fun. And you might suddenly leap out of your chair yelling, "I want to do that! I want to go on an epic adventure! And moreover, I want to go on an epic adventure for farm animals!"

Vegans on Bikes Take Over the World!

Picture it: you're running or biking or roller-skating down a long road. It's mile 20. You're dripping sweat, your muscles are pumping and you're generally feeling like an action hero. When you stop at a gas station to refuel with the sports drink of your choice, some impressed person says, "Wow, nice roller skates! How far have you come?" You tell them, savoring their expression of amazement.

"I'm doing it to raise money for the protection of farm animals," you say. “Farm animals, really?,” they ask. "Yes, let me give you this brochure!," you respond and hand them a Veg for Life brochure. And with that – BAM! – you just educated somebody about the plight of farm animals, and shattered their stereotype that vegans can't compete. (After all, you could roller skate circles around them.) Meanwhile, friends and family wait anxiously to hear the latest news of your adventure while they donate to your online fundraiser! Sounds pretty boss, right?

As several brave men and women have demonstrated recently, dreams can become realities when we put our hearts and minds into the task. Jocelyn Richards is going to run her first marathon this October, and she's going the extra mile by making it a fundraiser for Farm Sanctuary. As of this moment, she's already secured 11 percent of her $10,000 goal! Meanwhile, athlete activist John Merryfield, is planning a three-day stand-up paddle around Lake Tahoe (72 miles) in September.

Merryfield says, “I was inspired during a visit to Farm Sanctuary in Orland, where I met Josh Hooten, publisher of Herbivore Magazine, who rode his bike from Portland to Farm Sanctuary in California. He raised a lot of awareness for animals trapped on factory farms and over $12,000 for Farm Sanctuary programs. I felt it was my turn to speak out for the voiceless.”

Josh Hooten and daughter Ruby on the home stretch to Orland

Finally, I couldn't write about athlete activists without mentioning my buddy Greg Straight Edge, the founder of Exercise Compassion and this year's winner of our annual Friend of Farm Animals Award. I met Greg this summer when he accompanied me and eight others on a fundraiser bike/hike from Washington, D.C. to Watkins Glen. Having seen Greg in action, I have no doubt he's got what it takes to complete his 48-state Exercise Compassion bike tour next year, which involves stopping to volunteer at Farm Sanctuary, as well as several other farm animal sanctuaries, and doing public outreach along the way.

So how do you start your own adventure? These endeavors take time to plan and seeing yours through to completion will test your body and your spirit. But when you've told everyone in your life that you're doing a triathlon (or a roller-skate-athon) for farm animals, you'll soon find that finishing the race is your only option.

First, set a challenging but reasonable goal for yourself. If you decide to do an ultra-marathon three months from now and your last serious exercise was running laps in PE, you're headed for a world of pain. On the other hand, if your event is jumping rope around the block, you're not going to inspire much interest. Find the happy medium and start preparing early. See the links on VeganAthlete.com for great information on how to be a lean, green, vegan machine.

Next, set up a Web page to collect contributions from friends, family and impressed strangers you meet at gas stations. Web sites such as GiveForward and Firstgiving can essentially do this for you.

Finally, set up a blog where you update supporters on your training, post photographs of your event, thank sponsors and so on. With services like Blogger and Wordpress, this is also a simple process that requires no advanced computer skills. If you're a social networker, you can also get a lot of exposure for your cause by posting links on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter. Check out our guide to online activism here.

The rewards are sweet. You'll be making a wonderful gift to animals while creating memories to last a lifetime. And the next time you bring vegan power pasta to the family cookout, your omnivore relatives will take one look at your well-toned physique and say, "I'll have what you're having!"

Farm Sanctuary is the nation's leading farm animal protection organization. Since incorporating in 1986, Farm Sanctuary has worked to expose and stop cruel practices of the "food animal" industry ... read more.

Making Hay with Gene Baur features personal blogs from Farm Sanctuary President & Co-founder Gene Baur, as well as other entries focused on Farm Sanctuary’s advocacy efforts and the multiple ways that you can get involved and make a difference for farm animals.

Gene grew up in Hollywood, California and worked in commercials for McDonald's and other fast food restaurants. He adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1985, and today, he campaigns to raise awareness about the negative consequences of industrialized factory farming and our cheap food system. He lives in Washington, DC and is the co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary. Read more.